Banks of Loch Ailort to Broadford
A warm welcome, excellent coffee and porridge and a warm-up of cold hands at the Lochailort Inn seven miles from the wild camp site were appreciated. Being open to non-residents early in the day was a wonderful surprise. At the campsite, my hands had been sore with the cold and I had given up trying to force my fingers through fingered gloves and resorted to mittens.
[Letters TI (meaning home in gaelic) missing from the inn name on a side wall were being replaced by a professional during a later visit, leading to suggestions that the inn would be regaining a homely status.]
The ride to Broadford from Lochailort is hilly but the road is wide enough and much of it offers a cycling path. There are options to take minor roads to take in Arisaig, Portnaluchaig & Camusdarach and Loch Morar.
Mallaig has several cafes and the Tea Garden Cafe on Station Road declares on its card that it, “serves cooked meals all day, a selection of teas, coffees and home baking.”
The road from Armadale to Broadford has several eateries and my usual is An Crubh, on the left about half way along. This being closed on a Monday, I tried for the first (and not last) time the cafe at Torabhaig Distillery. There was a good choice of food and drink, which being enjoyed by all of us travellers. The distillery is in a pleasant setting and a stroll after eating completed a satisfying break.
The Skye Campsite in Broadford, which in its early years did not cater for us traditional campers transporting their own small tents, has now good level grass on which to camp, a substantial toilet and shower block and a refuge from the elements and midges. This refuge is large enough for several picnic tables and you can admire the views all around through its many windows. Washing facilities for clothes and dishes, use of a kettle and microwave, and a shop selling camping gear and coffee (cheaper with your own mug). Locked boxes provide save charging of your devices at £1 per device.
There was time to visit Fiona to hear the latest news from the Campbell side of the clan and to get help with planning visits to other relatives the following day.